Luxembourg parliament passes prostitution law

Luxembourg's parliament has passed a bill that changes the legal framework for prostitution in a bid to crack down on human trafficking and pimping.

Prostitution is legal in Luxembourg, but the bill will criminalise customers of prostitutes who are minors, vulnerable individuals – for instance, individuals suffering from mental illness or without valid papers – or the victims of human trafficking.

It passed 32-28 in a parliamentary vote on Tuesday evening, supported by the governing coalition parties.

Under the changes to the law, the customer of a prostitute who is a minor, a vulnerable person or a victim of exploitation, procuring or human trafficking will face a prison sentence and a fine of €251 to €50,000.

If a prostitute is a minor or a vulnerable person, the client faces a 1-5 year prison sentence.

In all other cases, the client faces an eight-day to six-month sentence.

Trafficking people for sexual exploitation, providing fraudulent documents or withholding someone's travel documents will result in a 3-5 year imprisonment and a fine of €10,000-50,000.

However, under the law, if the client of a prostitute agrees to testify and provide evidence of a criminal offense, the public charges would be dropped.

Victims of sexual exploitation or trafficking will also not be criminally responsible for soliciting.

The law also allows for police officers, with prior authorisation by a state prosecutor, to enter hotels, boarding houses, bars, clubs, dance halls and other venues prostitutes frequent.

The police can also enter private premises where pimping is suspected.

The main opposition party, the CSV, voted against the bill, criticising the increase in police powers.

After passing through parliament, the bill will now be signed into law by the Grand Duke.